Abstract
Recently, increasing numbers of people have realized the harm that particulate matter (PM) causes to health, especially those with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). With the increasing popularity of wearable devices in recent years, it is believed that wearable technology can contribute feasible solutions to prevent health hazards caused by PM2.5. In order to better understand the public’s needs regarding wearable devices, this study aimed to determine what kinds of PM2.5 wearable devices were needed by the public and the factors that may influence these needs. An online survey was conducted in the Beijing metropolitan area of China of a total of 894 subjects. The results showed that the public’s overall need for wearable PM2.5 purifiers was higher than for wearable PM2.5 trackers. The public’s needs for wearable breathing-zone PM2.5 devices were significantly higher than for any other type, indicating that people care about the quality of the air they actually breathe. It was also found that education, income level, and attitude toward PM2.5 positively affected their needs for wearable devices. In contrast, age had a negative influence on their needs. The results of this study are expected to serve as a valuable reference for related academic and industrial research.
Highlights
Particulate matter (PM) is a major air pollutant in both indoor and outdoor environments [1]
For both wearable PM2.5 trackers and purifiers, we examined which type would be more needed by potential users
Research Question 2: Will factors, such as education, income level, and age, influence people’s needs for wearable PM2.5 devices? Research shows that age, education, and income level significantly affect the acceptance of innovative technologies
Summary
Particulate matter (PM) is a major air pollutant in both indoor and outdoor environments [1]. PM10 is defined as a substance less than 10 μm in diameter, called fine dust. PM2.5 is defined as a substance with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm, called ultrafine dust [2]. Ultrafine dust is a fatal substance that causes respiratory system diseases and heart-related diseases because it cannot be filtered from the respiratory system [3,4]. Some people may experience severe rhinitis or soreness of the eyes when fine dust concentration levels are high [5]. The level of PM affects many aspects of the public’s daily lives and behavior patterns. On days with a high PM2.5 concentration, people may reduce unnecessary outings, wear masks when going out, and use air purification systems. As the public’s awareness of PM2.5 deepens, more people realize that PM2.5 concentration is affected by the external natural environment. Many indoor pollution sources, including many human behaviors themselves, cause the concentration of indoor PM2.5 to increase [6,7]
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